JOHN HARBAUGH
HEAD COACH
COLLEGE: MIAMI (OH)
BORN: 9/23/62, PERRYSBURG, OH
EXP. (NFL/RAVENS): 16/6
John Harbaugh never wants it to be about him.
But, it’s getting more difficult to ignore his very measurable
success. Here’s a look, entering the 2013 season:
•Harbaugh is a Super Bowl-winning head coach, guiding
the 2012 Ravens to the Super Bowl XLVII title.
• He is the only head coach in league history (since 1970
merger) to win a playoff game in each of his first four and
five seasons.
•He is the first coach in NFL history to reach three
conference title games in his first five seasons.
•Under Coach Harbaugh, the Ravens are 9-4 in the
playoffs, with those nine victories standing as the most by
an NFL head coach in his first five seasons.
• Including the playoffs, the Ravens, under Harbaugh, tied
for the most wins (63, with New England) in the league
over the last five seasons (2008-12).
• Harbs’ .675 regular season winning pct. (54-26) is second
best (Atlanta’s Mike Smith, .700) in the NFL among coaches
who began their careers since 1970 (Min. 70 games).
• The Ravens’ 54 regular season victories are third most in
the NFL since 2008.
• The Ravens are the NFL’s only team to earn the playoffs
each of the last five years (2008-12). A year ago, the
Ravens were the only NFL team to make the postseason
four years in a row.
•Only Bill Cowher, with six, has produced more
consecutive playoff seasons (1992-97) to start an NFL
head-coaching career.
Coaching Background
yearsCOLLEGE/PRO TEAM
1984-86
Western Michigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1987Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1988
Morehead State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1989-94Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1995-96Cincinnati . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1997Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1998-2006
Philadelphia Eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2007
Philadelphia Eagles . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2008-13
Baltimore Ravens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
harbaugh snapshot
Five Seasons
(2008-12)
Regular Season Record........................................ 54-26
at Home...................................................................... 33-7
on Road.................................................................... 21-19
vs. AFC..................................................................... 41-19
vs. AFC North............................................................ 21-9
vs. NFC....................................................................... 13-7
Playoffs Record.......................................................... 9-4
Playoffs Home Record............................................... 2-0
Playoffs Road Record................................................ 6-4
Super Bowl Record.................................................... 1-0
Overall Career Record........................................... 63-30
JOHN HARBAUGH SEASON-BY-SEASON
YearRecord Playoffs
2012
10-6
4-0 (Won Super Bowl XLVII)
2011
12-4
1-1 (AFC Championship)
2010
12-4
1-1 (Divisional)
2009
9-7
1-1 (Divisional)
2008
11-5
2-1 (AFC Championship)
From his job interview with the Ravens, to his first press
conference, to his consistent action and talk about the
Ravens, it is all about “the team” for Coach Harbaugh. Signs
can be seen around the Ravens’ training complex: “The
Team, The Team, The Team.”
Position
Graduate Assistant
Tight Ends
DBs/Special Teams/
Strength & Conditioning
Special Teams, TEs, OLBs, RBs
Assistant Head Coach
DBs/Special Teams Coordinator
Special Teams Coordinator
Secondary
Head Coach
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JOHN HARBAUGH
ravens owner steve bisciotti on harbaugh
“What I commend John for is that he spends a lot of time one-on-one with these guys. The 52nd guy on the roster is just
as likely to be in a one-on-one meeting with John as Ray Lewis is. From an organizational standpoint, John understands
that those guys on the bottom 15 – if you will – could be in [the game] at any given moment, so he spends an inordinate
amount of time with the guys – the second half of the roster – so that he understands them. He has a real one-on-one
relationship with them, and when it comes time to put them in, he knows what their strengths and weaknesses are. You
can’t run a business by talking in front of a group. John spends the majority of his time in one-on-one meetings, and I
think it’s the right way to run a business.”
“My coaching philosophy can be summed up easily,”
Harbaugh said. “The three most important things are the
team, the team and the team. Everything we do is to make
the team better. Individuals can let their lights shine, and we
encourage that. But, nothing should detract from making the
team better.”
Despite his early success as a historically good head coach,
“Harbs” diffuses accolades: “It’s about us. It’s about the
team. It’s about the players, the coaches, Steve (Bisciotti),
Ozzie (Newsome) and the scouts. It’s about Dick (Cass) and
the support staff. It’s about all of us pulling together to win –
to be the best,” Harbaugh said.
Unlike other NFL head coaches, “Harbs” took the road less
traveled. Most NFL field bosses graduate from pro jobs that
include the word coordinator after offensive or defensive, or
they emerge from heading big-time college programs. John
was the secondary coach of the Eagles (2007) – and prior to
that, Philadelphia’s special teams coordinator (1998-2006) and
a collegiate coach for 14 years – before becoming the Ravens’
head coach in 2008. (Harbaugh also grew up learning about
the game from his father, Jack, a longtime college coach.)
With his daughter, Alison, by his side, John celebrated the Ravens’
34-31 Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers at the
Superdome in New Orleans. CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz interviewed
Harbaugh on the victory stage.
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Last season (2012), the Ravens captured a secondconsecutive AFC North title with a 10-6 mark before
sweeping four playoff games to win Super Bowl XLVII: 24-9
over the visiting Colts on Wild Card weekend; 38-35 in double
overtime at Denver in the Divisional Round; 28-13 at New
England in the AFC Championship – shutting out the Patriots,
who owned the league’s top offense, in the second half; and
then topping the 49ers, 34-31, in New Orleans after jumping
to a 28-6 third-quarter lead. Showing a resolve that was a
hallmark of that championship team, the Ravens overcame
a three-game December losing streak and 53 games lost to
defensive starters to win the title.
Producing a second-straight 12-4 record (13-5 overall) in
2011, Baltimore won the AFC North, sweeping the division
for the first time in team history. The Ravens were 6-0
against playoff teams (7-1 including postseason), matching
Green Bay as the only clubs to go undefeated in division
play and against other postseason qualifiers during the
regular season. In what was a franchise first, the Ravens
also went unbeaten at home (9-0 with a playoff victory over
Houston). Baltimore earned a 20-13 Divisional Round victory
over the Texans, and then fell, 23-20, in a heartbreaking AFC
Championship thriller at New England.
After earning a 12-4 mark in 2010, the Ravens won at Kansas
City (30-7) in the Wild Card playoff. Baltimore then dropped a
31-24 Divisional Round contest at Pittsburgh, which advanced
to the Super Bowl. In 2009, Baltimore dominated at New
England, 33-14, in the Wild Card game before dropping a 20-3
contest at Super Bowl-bound Indianapolis in the Divisional
Round. (The victory at New England was the Patriots’ first
playoff loss at home since 1978.)
In Coach Harbaugh’s initial season (2008) in Baltimore,
the Ravens advanced to the AFC Championship game
after winning at Miami (27-9) and at the AFC’s top-seeded
Tennessee Titans, 13-10. Pittsburgh, the eventual Super
Bowl champion, stopped the Ravens (23-14) in the AFC title
matchup at Heinz Field. That first Harbaugh/Ravens team
tied the NFL record (since 1978) for turnarounds by a head
coach taking over a sub-.500 team. The Ravens’ 2-1 playoff
record following that regular season campaign established
a new league standard in this same category. With the 13
total victories in ’08, Harbaugh set the NFL record for the
most wins ever by a rookie head coach starting a rookie
JOHN HARBAUGH
quarterback (Joe Flacco). In 2012, Harbaugh and Flacco
once again set an NFL record when they became the first
quarterback-head coach duo to start their NFL careers at the
same time and lead a team to the postseason in each of their
first five seasons.
Impressively, the Ravens’ top four seasons for fewest
turnovers have all occurred during Harbaugh’s tenure. In
2012, Baltimore set a franchise single-season record for
fewest turnovers (16), breaking the previous mark of 20 from
2010. Constantly stressing attention to detail, Harbaugh’s 2010
and 2011 teams combined to produce the fewest penalties
(182) over a two-year stretch in franchise history.
Maintaining a strong defensive tradition, the Ravens finished
four (2008-11) of the past five seasons as the NFL’s No. 3
scoring defense (fewest points allowed) – tying an NFL record
for consecutive seasons ranking in the Top 3. Harbaugh’s red
zone defense has finished in the Top 5 in each of his seasons,
including first in 2011 and second in both 2012 and 2008.
The Ravens’ offense has also experienced successes during
the Harbaugh Era. In 2012, QB Joe Flacco produced his
fourth-straight 3,500-yard/20-touchdown passing season – a
Baltimore football record – while Pro Bowl RB Ray Rice has
led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (7,506) since 2009. A
year ago, the Ravens set team records with 398 points scored
and 72 plays of at least 20 yards gained (third in the league).
John Harbaugh strives to be the best. “We don’t want to
just win a championship. We want to be a championship
team,” he stated. “We want to become something. We seek
did you know?
John and his wife, Ingrid, completed the 12-mile
“Tough Mudder” obstacle course in Gerrardstown, WV,
together on April 20, 2013.
harbaugh leads NFL
John Harbaugh’s Ravens produced 63 combined wins (54
regular season) in five seasons (2008-12). John is the only
head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in each
of his first four and five seasons.
NFL WINS / INCLUDING PLAYOFFS
(2008-12)
Combined
Rk.Team
Wins
1. Baltimore Ravens.............................. 63
New England Patriots....................... 63
3. Green Bay Packers........................... 58
Pittsburgh Steelers............................ 58
the highest levels.” His teams are balanced, disciplined and
hard-nosed. “We want to be the most physical team, but we
also want to be the cleanest. Hard-hitting and playing with
physicality does not mean dirty,” he added.
Harbaugh, who established a reputation as one of the NFL’s
top special teams coaches, is the third head coach in Ravens
history, following Ted Marchibroda (1996-98) and Brian Billick
(1999-2007). Coach Harbaugh arrived in Baltimore with 24
years of pro and college coaching experience, including the
previous 10 seasons (1998-2007) with the Eagles.
He was originally hired (1998) by then-head coach Ray Rhodes
and, subsequently, was one of four assistants retained by
Andy Reid in 1999. Prior to hiring him, the Ravens talked with
over 30 people about the energetic Harbaugh. “Did we take
a chance by hiring John? My belief is that you have to be
willing to do things the masses don’t, or you’ll never separate
yourself from the masses,” stated team owner Steve Bisciotti.
“We obviously picked the right person.”
Harbaugh’s special teams in Philadelphia were consistently
ranked among the NFL’s best. From 2000-05, Philly’s units
finished in the Top 10 in five of those seasons in The Dallas
Morning News’ comprehensive special teams rankings. In
2001 and 2003, the Eagles ranked No. 1, according to senior
NFL writer Rick Gosselin’s composite (includes 22 kickinggame categories).
Following the 2001 campaign, Harbaugh was voted the NFL’s
Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers. He was also
named The Dallas Morning News Special Teams Coach
of the Year that season. In just four seasons (1998-2001),
Harbaugh elevated the Eagles’ special teams units from 29th
to first in the league.
In 1999, the Eagles signed K David Akers, who had been
working as a part-time waiter after brief kicking stints with
Carolina, Atlanta and Washington. With Harbaugh’s help,
Akers became a three-time Pro Bowler. Harbaugh also
worked with P Dirk Johnson, another “street” free agent,
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JOHN HARBAUGH
helping him record the then-top two net punting averages
(38.4 in 2005 and 37.4 in 2004) in Eagles history. Under
“Harbs,” 15 Eagles earned Special Teams Player of the Week
awards, while snapper Mike Bartrum was named to the Pro
Bowl, and RS Reno Mahe led the NFL with a 12.8 punt return
average in 2005.
Harbaugh, a graduate of Miami (OH) – where he played
defensive back – is from a football family. His father, Jack, is
a 41-year coaching veteran who won the 2002 NCAA Division
I-AA football championship as the head coach at Western
Kentucky. His younger brother Jim, who was the Ravens’
starting QB in 1998, played 14 seasons in the NFL and was
named the San Francisco 49ers’ head coach in January
2011. In a showdown that featured the first-ever NFL game
between head coaches who are brothers, John’s Ravens
bested Jim’s 49ers, 16-6, in a 2011 Thanksgiving Night (Nov.
24) primetime special. The Ravens, of course, then topped
the 49ers in last season’s Super Bowl. (The brothers’ sister,
Joani, is married to Indiana basketball coach Tom Crean.)
Among John’s 29 years of coaching is a two-year stint as the
assistant head coach at the University of Cincinnati (199596). (The Bearcats finished 6-5 both seasons.) He coached
10 years on offense and four on defense at the college level,
launching his coaching career in 1984 at the age of 21 as a
graduate assistant for his father at Western Michigan. In his
second position at the University of Pittsburgh (1987), he was
mentored by the legendary Sid Gillman, a Pro Football Hall of
Famer. John also coached the TEs at Pitt under head coach
Mike Gottfried. While at Cincinnati (1989-96), Harbaugh
coached special teams, TEs, OLBs, RBs and was also the
recruiting coordinator.
Over eight years, he recruited 27 starters for the Bearcats
and tutored both the NCAA’s top return man (former Raven
Robert Tate, 34.3 KOR avg. in 1995) and the second-ranked
returner (current Ravens assistant special teams coach
Chris Hewitt, 31.5 KOR avg. in 1993). John was part of a staff
that helped Cincinnati produce three out of four winning
seasons (1993, 1995-96) for the first time in 20 years.
“Harbs” also coached one season at Indiana in 1997 as
the DBs coach/special teams coordinator under former
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and one year at
Morehead State in 1988 as the DBs coach/special teams and
strength and conditioning coordinator.
Devoted to his family and his Christian faith, John is most
active in helping the Baltimore area be better for families.
He earned the 2011 “Power of Excellence Award” from the
(Ben) Carson Scholars for “demonstrating excellence in life
and being a role model.” He’s a board member for the Port
Discovery Children’s Museum and a significant contributor to
All Pro Dads, along with numerous Baltimore-area events and
charities. Also a willing volunteer, his wife, Ingrid, contributes
to both the Helping Up Mission and Sarah’s House.
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Harbaugh has also been an advocate of the U.S. Military. In
2011, he was selected as one of two finalists (Titans owner
Bud Adams) for the inaugural NFL Salute to Service award
for exceptional efforts to honor and support the military
community. In 2012, Harbaugh was presented an Outstanding
Civilian Service Award (below) by General Raymond Odierno,
Chief of Staff of the Army. His passion for assisting the
troops was felt immediately by the Ravens in 2008 when he
helped institute Military Appreciation Day, an annual Ravens
event that takes place during training camp. Since then, an
estimated 5,000 service members have enjoyed preferred
seating and opportunities to meet with Ravens players and
coaches each summer. Away from the field, “Harbs” often
recruits players and coaches to join him during base visits.
He has also spent significant time and funds putting together
care packages for soldiers overseas, in addition to school
supplies for military families.
Harbaugh earned a degree in political science at Miami
(OH), where he won the Football Scholar Athlete Award.
In early 2014, John will be inducted into Miami’s “Cradle
of Coaches Association” and will be immortalized with a
statue on the campus. He earned his master’s in physical
education at Western Michigan. John, who attended Ann
Arbor (MI) Pioneer HS, Ingrid, and their daughter, Alison, live
in Reisterstown, MD.
Photo credit: Chief of Staff of the Army
General Raymond Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army, presented John
Harbaugh with an Outstanding Civilian Service Award at Joint Base
Myer-Henderson Hall, VA, on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.